Living in the US with a Latin Attitude & a Bilingual Mind

Lincoln Road: Miami’s Fun Fashion & Dining

Miami Beach is a perfect destination for a family getaway. Lately, the restaurant scene has been changing dramatically, with up-and-coming chefs opening new places all over town. Miami is bringing a more sophisticated scene to that same old hotel-by-the-beach vibe that used to be the theme back in the 80s and 90s. If you’re in Miami with kids, Lincoln Road is my favorite spot to bring the whole family. Located between West Avenue and Washington Avenue, Lincoln Road is a pedestrian-only promenade at the epicenter of South Beach.

Lincoln Road offers unique shopping, sidewalk cafes, bars, galleries and fine dining. Lincoln Road is also the best people-watching spot on South Beach.

I love walking from one store to the other. It feels a little bit like traveling from one country to another. My kids enjoy jumping the bi-colored sidewalk designs, reminiscent of Rio de Janeiro, and playing in the fountains and street art installations.

What about food? If we don’t have a lot of time, we head for Shake Shack where you can sit inside or outside under large umbrellas, surrounded by lush water gardens in the shade of 50-year-old oak trees. This is a perfect spot to recharge your energy after a shopping spree with delicious burgers, hot dogs and shakes.

My favorite place for an early dinner is Baires Grill, an Argentine steakhouse featuring a complete and refined menu that’s appropriate for almost everyone. Their steaks are top-quality that’s grilled to perfection. I personally love their Milanesa Baires (beef or chicken breaded cutlet) which is grilled instead of fried, offering a lighter but more flavorful version. It comes topped with fresh arugula and campari tomatoes. No need to order a salad, but I do order a side of their mouth-watering mashed squash. My husband usually orders one of the steaks, either the entraña or skirt steak (a thin but marbled cut that’s full of flavor) or the more traditional ribeye steak: perfectly marbled, char-grilled over an open flame.

My kids love to get beef empanadas as a starter and share a ribeye or skirt steak for the main course. A side of truffle cayenne steak fries goes great with any of the steaks. We usually get a table outside so the kids can enjoy playing at the koi pond and fountain across the table. My husband and I watch them while sipping a glass of Malbec. Perfection! To complete the dining experience, we usually order a panqueque with dulce de leche that everyone can share that’s paired with café cortado (espresso with a drop of milk).

There’s more to shopping and eating here. Lincoln Road features a state-of-the-art multiplex cinema, the architecturally acclaimed 1111 Lincoln Road garage, as well as over 200 designer boutiques, local merchants, national retail stores, fine restaurants and bars.

Lincoln Road is also home to the newly restored Colony Theatre, a performing arts venue, and ArtCenter/South Florida, a collection of studios and gallery spaces for artists. It even offers a Farmers’ Market, featuring fruits, vegetables, fresh cut flowers, plants and other items, such as bread, honey, jams and jellies. The market takes place every Sunday on Lincoln Road between Washington Avenue and Meridian Avenue from 9 am to 6:30 pm, year round.